VITALI RETIREMENT IMPACTS FOX SPORTS NET
Last weeks retirement of Vitali Klitschko continues to send ripplesthrough the boxing world, affecting careers and television schedules throughoutweight divisions. The latest fallout is a kick in the groin to FoxSports Nets Best Damn Sports Show Period boxing series. Theratings-challenged series was to feature heavyweight contender James Toneyin another stay-busy fight on December 15th. Now, with Toneyscamps in talks with recently selected WBC belt-holder Hasim Rahmanspeople, Toney is off the card.
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TONEY DRAWS BEST FOR FOX SPORTS
Fox Sports Net could have used another ring appearance by Toney, who garneredthe programs best viewership to date, scoring a .76 rating (417,000households) in a comeback fight with Rydell Booker. Most of theshows since then have scored less than half that, with the recent VernonForrest Elco Garcia fight limping to a .31 rating.
BABY BULL RETURNS FROM HIATUS
WBA lightweight titlist Juan Diaz will headline instead,defending his belt from the man he took it from, Lakva Sim. This should bean action bout, as Diazs fights usually are. Their first fight was afairly comfortable points win for Diaz, but nobody should count the veteran Simout after his recent stoppage of lightweight prospect Ebo Elder.
DIAZ, GOT MAJOR EXPOSURE BEFORE CUT!
It will be Diazs first TV appearance in nearly a year after seeming to beall over the airwaves last year. A 10-month span in 2004 and early 2005 sawDiaz win on NBC, HBO and ESPN 2 (twice), the kind ofexposure most young fighters only dream of. Scheduled for ESPNsinaugural pay-per-view this past April in a title defense against Ebo Elder,Diaz sustained a cut in training that forced the bout to be scrapped.
INACTIVITY SPAWNED BY POSSIBLE BARRERA FIGHT?
In the 10 months since his last defense, the ubiquitous Baby Bullhas been in the ring just once, a non-title walk-over not televised anywhere. Therewere also rumors abound, that Marco Antonio Barrera, that negotiationswere ongoing. Already struggling to find a place in a talent deep division,the career blackout came at a bad time. With James Toney out of the pictureDecember 15th, Fox Sports Net now has to hope that people rememberDiaz and his high punch output well enough to tune in to his comeback.
WITH ALL HIS EXPOSURE, DIAZ NOT A HOUSEHOLD NAME
Thats not a lot to pin hopes to, considering that Vernon Forest is a muchbigger star than Diaz, and still couldnt draw the viewing public (of course,the fact that the portion of the country that received the fight on Fox SportSouth had the broadcast delayed for a high school football game and a NASCARstudio show didnt help). But this fight does have something going for itthat few of the Fox Sports fight cards has had, namely a meaningful match-up.
CRUMMY FIGHTS MEAN CRUMMY RATINGS!
Lack of competitive meaningful bouts has been the downfall of Foxs boxingover the last year or two. The series has tended to feature veterans on thecomeback from injury (Toney, Forest), on the downside of their career (MontellGriffin, Vassiliy Jirov), or so far over the hill they wish they could stillsee the downside (Riddick Bowe, Michael Moorer). When not featuringthe older set, theyve managed to deliver Audley Harrison twice in snoozers. Theonly really close, good fight theyve featured recently was Riddick Bowescontroversial win over journeyman Billy Zumbrun, and I dont know anyboxing fan who really enjoyed seeing that one. At least in Diaz Simtheyve got a young champion reaching his prime, well known to boxing fans ifnot the general public, taking on a legitimate title defense. Hopefullyviewers will respond.
PROTECTION IN BOXING, IS IT ONLY FOR STARS?
In the last year or two weve seen state commissions put two starheavyweights, Evander Holyfield and Joe Mesi, on the shelf forapparent health reasons. Both decisions received wide acclaim from boxingfans and industry players, and more than a little self-congratulatory patting oftheir own backs by those who issued the suspensions. But in the wake of thedeath of Levander Johnson, you have to wonder how popular you have to befor someone to look out for you.
BURTON, AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!
Im speaking specifically about the case of lightweight Courtney Burton. Theformer prospect, once good enough to fight in a lightweight title eliminator,has now lost four of his last five fights by late round knockout, culminatingwith his November 11th stoppage in the ninth at the hands of JuanLaczano. The one win in that span was a roundly disparaged giftdecision over EmanuelAugustus.
BURTON NEEDS PROTECTION FROM SELF & CORNER
How long before somebody in authority steps up to do what Burton and hishandlers are seemingly unwilling to do, namely call it quits on thisonce-promising career? A better case could be made for letting him fighthad he lost all five fights by first round knockout. At least the totalityof punishment he has absorbed would have been much less disturbing. Instead,Burton has been just a little to good for his own health, tending to succumb tovicious knockouts in the latter stages tough battles. His battle with EboElder alone, one of the most underrated and brutal wars in recent years, couldhave taken years off his career.
ALL THE WHIPPINGS WERE TELEVISED!
The really bothersome thing, and the factor which justifies this item in thiscolumn, is that all five of those fights WERE TELEVISED ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. Burtonhas appeared twice each on ESPN 2 and Showtime, and his last losswas shown on Telefutura. In the wake the unfortunate ring death ofLevander Johnson, hindsight proved 20/20, with numerous people suddenly able toanalyze Johnsons recent career and identify signs of danger. In thedefense of the boxing public, Johnson had fought most of his last fights off thepublic radar, allowing the IBF to mandate the deadly bout (JesusChavez) with precious little pre-fight outcry.
BOXING SHOULD HEED THIS SERIOUS WARNING!
There will be no such defense should Courtney Burton face tragedy in thering. Boxing fans, boxing media, and the television outlets have seen liveand in color exactly what has transpired in Burtons last five fights. Whileevery man deserves a right to make a living, I am calling on ESPN,Showtime, Telefutura and Fox to refuse to take part in another CourtneyBurton fight, even if state commissions insist on approving one.
Lou Ciaccia
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